The Center

All-inclusive venue

The venue takes care of it all - food and beverage, rentals, the works!

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $10,000 for off-peak dates, and $18,500 for peak dates

Catering services pricing

$50 per person for off-peak dates, with a minimum total spend of $9,500

Guest capacity

Up to 300 seated guests

About this venue

The Center’s 15,000 square foot space serves as a stunning backdrop for any special occasion – whether it be a wedding celebration, engagement party, or rehearsal dinner. Our expansive floorplan showcases natural light, gleaming hardwood floors and a contemporary, clean design allowing The Center to become a ‘blank canvas’ to host your event. While planning can be stressful, our group of specialized experts will put you at ease as they guide you step by step and give you all the tips and tricks on turning your vision into a reality. Our team will ensure that at the end of the day you feel like the ‘Center’ of it all, so sit back, relax, open a bottle of bubbly and let the planning festivities begin!

Seated guest capacity

100-300

Venue type

Ballrooms, Banquet Halls
Hotels, Inns, Resorts
Museums, Galleries
Urban Locations

Venue setting

Indoor

115 E 5th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Our event spaces

Grand Ballroom

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Grand Ballroom

Contemporary and customizable, right in the heart of downtown Cincinnati.

The Center, located in the Mercantile Building downtown, first opened in 1970 and was designed by Chicago architect Harry Weese. The space, formerly known as the Contemporary Arts Center, offers a unique setting and central location for a memorable event. The Center’s 15,000-square-foot space serves as a stunning blank canvas backdrop for any special occasion—whether it be a wedding celebration, engagement party, or rehearsal dinner.

Guest capacity

50-300 Seated

50-500 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Rehearsal dinner, Cocktail hour, Engagement party

Guests often feel this space is

“Luxurious and chic”

Included in this room:

- Tables and Chiavari Chairs - Lighting and Decor (Chargers, Centerpieces, Table Numbers, Uplighting, etc.) - Bridal Suite - Dedicated Event Team - Venue Coordinator, Security, and Event Planner - Linens and Napkins (will depend on Caterer selection) - Ceremony Backdrops and Draping - Expansive Hardwood Floors and High Ceilings - Large Picture Windows overlooking Downtown - AV including projector, screen, wireless and handheld microphones, as well as a podium

Room cost

$4,000 for 5 hours, $700 additional hour on a Saturday during peak season

Available services that can be provided by The Center

Services & amenities

Bar services
Catering services
Clean up
Dance floor
Dressing room / Bridal Suite
Event coordinator
Event rentals
Event staff
Lighting/Sound
On-site accommodations
Service staff
Set up
Wedding cake services
Wheelchair accessible
Wifi

Transportation & access

Self parking - paid
Wheelchair accessible

Rentals

Barware
Chiavari Chairs
China
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting
Linens
Sound / AV

Reviews

Write a review

Zola (1)

5.0 (1 review)

Best Wedding Venue in Cincinnati!!!
Verified review
•Robin F.•3 years ago
The Center was the perfect venue for our wedding! The space is absolutely beautiful and it’s perfect for couples like us who wanted to have their ceremony and reception in the same place. We had our ceremony in the dome room and our reception in the main ball room and it was absolutely beautiful! We got tons of compliments and how great the space was from our guests. It’s extremely convenient with many parking garages within a few blocks as well as various hotels nearby for guests to stay in. The staff at The Center is absolutely wonderful and even with all of the new restrictions that came with COVID they made sure we still had the perfect wedding. Katie was great and kept us up to date during all the craziness that was going on this spring and always answered any questions we had ASAP. I can not recommend The Center enough!!!

Preferred vendors of The Center

Caterer

Eat Well Celebrations And Feasts

Newport, KY

Caterer

Funky's Catering Events

Cincinnati, OH

Caterer

Jeff Thomas Catering

Cincinnati, OH

Caterer

McHale's Catering

Park Hills, KY

5 hours of Event Time, Tables and Chiavari Chairs (to seat up to 300 guests), Up-lighting and LED-lit dome featuring several color options, Customizable Centerpieces, Backdrops and Décor, Dedicated Event Team (Event Planner, Venue Coordinator, and Security), Use of Bridal Suite and Groom's Room, Early Venue Access, and Complete Set Up and Teardown.

April through December

While your caterer may supply food and non-alcoholic beverages, The Center will provide all alcohol for your event. Several packages are available.

January and February

We do! For anyone requiring walker or wheelchair access, we recommend that they utilize our 5th Street entrance (115 E 5th St.). Elevator access is located on the right-hand side of the corridor which will lead to The Center.

Your reservation includes five hours from start to finish. Additional time may be added on. Prices will range from $300-$700 per hour depending on the date.

All payments excluding our security deposit are considered non-refundable. If you cancel your event within 6 months of your booked date, you will be required to meet half of the minimum spend requirement.

No, our venue is fully insured. If you are looking for additional coverage the day of your event we recommend doing so through your home owner's policy or through Wed Safe.

We do not, however there are several garages connected to us via a Skywalk, which is an indoor walkway above street level. In addition, we have connections with several of the parking and transportation vendors in the area that are able to assist.

Want them for your wedding?

The Center

All-inclusive venue

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Catering services pricing

Guest capacity

About this venue

Seated guest capacity

Venue type

Venue setting

Our event spaces

Grand Ballroom

Guest capacity

Ideal for

Guests often feel this space is

Included in this room:

Room cost

Available services that can be provided by The Center

Services & amenities

Transportation & access

Rentals

The Center menu options

Catering Menus on behalf of McHale's Catering (Our Parent Company)

Reviews

Best Wedding Venue in Cincinnati!!!

Preferred vendors of The Center

Frequently asked questions

What does our rental fee include?

What is your peak season?

Can we bring our own alcohol?

What is your off-peak season?

Do you have accessible facilities?

How many hours are included in our booking?

What’s your cancellation policy?

Do we need to get insurance?

Do you have on-site parking?

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